Species

Metrosideros excelsa

Etymology

Metrosideros: iron heartexcelsa: tall

Common Name(s)

Pohutukawa

Current Conservation Status

2018 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened
2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Metrosideros excelsa Sol. ex Gaertn.

Family

Myrtaceae

Brief Description

Large sprawling mainly coastal tree with leathery oval leaves, bearing masses of red bristly flowers over Christmas. Naturally occurring north of Poverty Bay and north Taranaki, but can be now found as far south as Dunedin. Branches sprawling up to around 20 metres, often with masses of dangling reddish rootlets.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

METEXC

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Metrosideros tomentosa Richard

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: Three Kings Islands and North Island from North Cape to about Pukearuhe, (northern Taranaki) in the west and near Mahia Peninsula (in the east). However, exact southern limit is difficult to ascertain as it has been widely planted and there is evidence that old time Maori cultivated the tree in some southerly areas. Found inland around the Rotorua Lakes and at Lake Taupo - though these occurrences could stem from Maori plantings (though the association of other normally coastal species around these lakes argues against this). Now widely planted throughout the rest of New Zealand (especially around Nelson, the Marlborough Sounds, the Kaikoura Coast and on the west coast to about Hokitika).

Habitat

Coastal forest and on occasion inland around lake margins. Also in the far north occasionally an associate of kauri forest. In some northerly locations it forms forest type in its own right - this forest is dominated by pohutukawa, other associates often include tawapou (Pouteria costata), kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile), puriri (Vitex lucens), karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus), and on rodent-free offshore islands the frequent presence of coastal maire (Nestegis apetala), and milk tree (Streblus banksii) suggests these species too may once have been important in mainland examples of pohutukawa forest.

Similar Taxa

In New Zealand it is most frequently confused with the Kermadec pohutukawa (M. kermadecensis) which is endemic to Raoul Island (Kermadec Island Group). This island endemic differs by the smaller, rounder leaves, and much smaller inflorescences. It also has a tendency to sporadically flower throughout the year and on the New Zealand mainland at least it has a more erect, shrubby growth form, and rarely (if ever) makes a big tree.

Flowering

(August-) November-December (-March)

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Yellow

Fruiting

(January-) March-April (-May)

Propagation Technique

Very easy from fresh seed. Seed must be sown fresh, even if left for a few weeks before sowing viability can drop, especially if seed is allowed to dry out. Very difficult from cuttings, though soft wood water shoots give the best results. Can be grafted onto seedlings.

Threats

Like all New Zealand tree Metrosideros, pohutukawa is most at risk from possum (Trichosurusvulpecula) browse. These can seriously damage and even kill trees. Often where their browsing occurs within sites of unrestricted stock and vehicle access, pohutukawa forest is in danger of becoming locally extinct. It does remain common over large parts of its range, a situation being greatly improved by the efforts of people encouraged by the national coordination of Project Crimson - a non profit organisation set up to protect, enhance and/or establish pohutukawa forest, as well as promote the species use, and its conservation.